Officials with the DOH-7, covering the Central Visayas region, are reporting a more than 1,300 percent increase in measles cases during the first two months or so of 2019.

Image/Jim Goodson, M.P.H.
Image/Jim Goodson, M.P.H.

Records show that a total of 737 measles cases, an increase of 1,317 %,  have been reported in the region as of March 6.

Of the total, majority of the cases are in Cebu (512) followed by Negros Oriental (148), Bohol (70), and Siquijor (7).

Tragically, eight children under the age of two have died.

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Since the start of DOH’s measles outbreak response immunization in the region, a total of 145,399 individuals have been vaccinated against the deadly disease.

“We have already reached around 36 percent of our target immunization which is 376,400. We’re expecting more will be vaccinated since there are still some local government units that have yet to start their immunization in the schools,” said Dr. Jeanette Paulino Cortes of DOH-7.

Through Mar. 7, 18,553 cases, including 280 were reported nationwide in 2019.

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